2 GEs, but what to do???

[grandtrunkfan]

Found some bargin priced GEs on a recent trip to my 2 favorite hobby shops. The first was at Riders Hobby in Grand Rapids, MI, an undecorated Athearn blue box C44-9W, still technically brand new. Clearance price at $22. Sold!


The second was at this pre-owned shop in Grand Rapids, called Hobby Recycling. Basically a pawn shop for model train items. I usually walk out everytime with 2 or 3 of someones unfinished projects. Found an Atlas GP40-2 shell with all the details in tact for $2.50. And a complete Railpower Products C40-8W set for $3.95 with all the trimmings!! Good stuff!! Didnt realize it at the store, but much to my disapointment when I got home, it has the gull wing cab. So much for my CSX unit I invisioned with it...


I have absolutely no plans for either of these bad boys. Just picked them up because they were both good deals. I think MAYBE the -9 will be a CNW unit, Maybe! Like I said, I wanted the C40 for a CSX job, but it doesnt have the correct cab and Im not fimiliar with what roads used gull wing cabs. Im assuming just ATSF? So I may sell that one. Any ideas welcome! I love the CNW scheme, but dont think it would fit in too well with my Central Michigan shortlines/CSX theme.

[c415rock]

Hi Nick,

Here is idea or two for both of your projects.

First is the Dash-9 If you realy want a CSX unit you can take Athearn shell and cut off the end platforms and graft them onto a Atlas 840CW Shell which will give you a CSX C40-9W They have 53 units on the roster. Units 9000-9002 are the first 3 units in this class and are shorter in over all length and have 5 steps like all Dash 8 models. These first 3 units are dash8 units with dash9 components. These units were the test bed for GE, I bet CSX got a good deal on them. 9003-9052 are C40-9 which have the dash8 car body and the main spotting feature is the 6 step pilots that all dash9 have. Here is a few links to some photos of the prototype and a link to Atlas who has the Dash8CW CSX complete for sale in both the Y3n and dark future, you will need to renumber them.

CSX C40-9W 9051
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2362334
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2479004

secure.atlasrr.com/mod1/itemdesc.asp?ic=HO840CWCSX1&eq=&Tp=
secure.atlasrr.com/mod1/itemdesc.asp?ic=HO840CWCSX4&eq=&Tp=

For the rail power product dash8

CN has purchased these units second hand from BNSF. So you can either do a patched unit before repaint or you can do a full CN repaint. See the links to prototype photos of each. The second option is to take strip styrene and fill in the gull wing and reshape to a standard cab. It kind of a pain in the rear, but it can be done. I have done it.

CN C40-8W

www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=332374
www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=358394&nseq=142

Erik

[grandtrunkfan]

Erik, the CN C40 is a great idea! However Im still partial to a CNW Dash 9! Ive seen a few UP units slide through Michigan on the CSX so it can be some foreign power repaying hours. Plus Im still trying to get my chop nose right on my Mid Michigan GP9, so I dont think Im up to hacking a pair of shells. Not yet...

[bdhicks]

If it were me, I'd paint the C44-9W as CNW 8646 or 8701, since those are still running around unpatched. (plus, I'd like something to go with my CNW heritage unit and I don't really want any other UP engines).

[m a y o r 79]

There are still unparched CNW units? That would be my vote for the Dash 9.  The gull wing CN looks cool too, didnt know they had those.  

The windows on the Dash 8s from railpower are not correct though (i found out on my build after it was too late).  The Athearn dash 9 cab has the correct spacing so its an easy swap if your concerned.  Then you can donwhatever you want with the dash8.

[grandtrunkfan]

I think Im going with UP 9771, an ex CNW unit. Unfortunately it is a patch unit, but I found it did travel to my neck of the woods.
UP 9771 in Grand Rapids, MI

Thanks for the heads up with the windows. Not 100% set on a prototype for the CN unit yet. Still checking out referance material.

Update: I was cleaning in the train room and came across an old Walthers B40-8W I had tucked away and it has a standard GE cab (No gullwing). I can do what I intended to do with this unit!

[T]

I would do a Heritage schemed loco for your own model rail line..

Tom